Combination mail-box and signaling mechanism.



S. S. HOPKINS.

COMBINATION MAIL BOX AND SIGNALING MECIEIAIIISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.1, 1910.

1 ,02 1 1 00. I Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

WITNESSES: [NVENTOR COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

SOLOMON S. HOPKINS, 0F WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA.

COMBINATION MAIL-BOX AND SIGNALING MECHANISM.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 26, 1912.

Application filed April 1, 1910. Serial No. 552,862.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON S. Horxrxs, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVaynesboro, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Mail-Boxes and Signaling Mechanisms and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination mail boxes and signaling mechanisms therefor and my object is to provide means for causing the closure for the box to swing to a closed position by gravity.

A further object is to provide means for sounding an alarm and at the same time operate an indicator when the closure is swung open.

A further object is to provide means for breaking the circuit to the indicator and signal when the closure is swung to its closed position.

A further object is to provide means for mounting the circuit breaking mechanism within the box, and, a further object is to so arrange the device that the same can be connected to the usual form of bell circuit as is commonly used in dwellings.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mail box complete showing the same secured to an object. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the box. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the closure for the box. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view through the box showing the manner of attaching the circuit breaker therein. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the binding posts showing a contact plate fixed thereto. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the opposite binding post, and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of attaching the wires from the mail box to the usual form of bell circuit within the dwelling.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throug ut the Several views, 1 indicates the body of the box, which is preferably rectangular in general outline and 2 indicates the cover therefor, the lower end of'the cover having a socket thereon, through which extends a pivot pin 4, the ends of the pin engaging ears 5 onthe box, by means of which the cover is hingedly secured to the box. The upper end of the cover 2 is provided with a rib 6, which terminates at its ends in knobs 7, said knobs projecting beyond the edges of the body, whereby they may be readily grasped to swing the cover to its open position.

In order to cause the cover to swing to a closed position by gravity, a pocket 8 is formed on the inner face thereof, which pocket extends to a point adjacent the rear wall of the box when the cover is in its closed position and it will be readily seen that in view of the weight of said pocket being positioned at one side of the center of gravity, the cover will be moved to a closed position when the cover is swung outwardly and released and it will further be seen that additional weight will be added to the pocket when mail matter is placed therein, said pocket being provided for receiving the mail. The outwardly swinging movement of the cover is limited by forming a slot 9 in one wall of the pocket and introducing therethrough a pin 10, said pin being engaged with one side wall of the box.

My improved box is adapted primarily to be used in rural districts, although the same may be used in the cities as well. hen the box is used in rural districts, it is customary to place the box at a distance from the dwelling or in a position convenient for the carrier, as it frequently happens that some of the patrons are quite a distance from the route traveled by the carrier and in order to announce to the patron that mail matter has been placed in the box without requiring the patron to go to the box for that purpose, I provide my improved signaling mechanism. To this end, a block 11 is placed in engagement with the rear wall of the box and is held in engagement therewith in any suitable manner, as by means of tongues 12, which are preferably struck from the rear wall of the box.

The block 11 is constructed of any suitable insulating material, such as wood or the like and when engaged with the tongues 12, restsupon the bottom of the box and secured to said block are binding posts 13 and 14, which are attached to the block in any preferred manner.

The binding post 13 has mounted thereon or formed integral therewith a collar 15, in which is formed a slit 16 and in said slit is secured one end of a contact plate 17 the opposite end of the contact plate extending below the post 14 and adapted to engage said post to form a circuit when the cover is swung outwardly. The plate 17 is normally held out of engagement with the post 14 to break the circuit through the wires 18 and 19 by providing a pin 20 on the bottom of the pocket 8, said pin being of sufficient length to disengage the contact plate from the post- 14 when the cover is in its closed position. As the contact plate 17 is formed of spring metal, it will be readily seen that the free end thereof will move into engagement with the post 14 as soon as the cover has been moved outwardly a sufficient distance to dis engage the pin from the contact plate.

The wires 18 and 19 are extended from the box to the dwelling and are connected to any suitable form of bell 21, a battery 22 being provided at any suitable point in the line Wires and it will be readily seen that when the contact plate is engaged with the post 14, the circuit will be closed through said wires and bell and said bell caused to operate, thereby notifying the patron thatmail has been placed in the box. In addition to providing the bell 21, an annunciator 23 may be provided also, which annunciator may be constructed in any preferred form and will be operated simultaneously with the ringing of the bell, so that should the patron not be in hearing distance of the bell when rung, the annunciator will signify that the box has been opened and mail placed therein.

By employing my improved device, it will obviate the necessity of the patron going to the box at other times than when mail is placed therein, as the signals will always operate when the cover to the box is opened. When the device is used in cities or other places where electric door bells are used, the wires 18 and 19 may be attached to the circuit wires 24 in the dwelling, said wires being so arranged as to shunt the push button 25 and by so arranging the wires, it will not be necessary for the postman to ring the door bell to notify the patron that mail has been placed in the box, as the opening of the box will accomplish that result.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a very cheap and durable form of mail box and one wherein the cover therefor will close by gravity. It will likewise be seen that by providlng the signaling mechanism, as shown, the box can be placed at any distance from the residence and the patron notified when mail matter is placed in the box. It will further be seen that by arranging the contact plate and pin, as shown, the circuit for the signaling mechanism. will. be broken so long as the cover is in its closed position and that the circuit will be closed as soon as the cover starts to open. It will likewise be seen that when the dwelling is wired, as is common for ringing door hells, etc., the mail box signaling mechanism may be attached thereto without disturbing the operation of the bell when the push button is operated and it will further be seen that by providing the annunciator and arranging the same to operate coincident to the bell, the patron may ascertain at any time whether or not mail has been placed in the box even though the bell is not heard when sounded. It will further be understood that the box may be formed of any suitable material and constructed in any preferred shape and if desired, the cover may be placed at the top of the box instead of at the side thereof, as shown.

What I claim is The combination of a mail box, comprising a casing and a cover therefor, a pocket formed on the inner face of the cover for receiving mail-matter, said cover being normally actu ated by gravity to close the cover from. its extreme open, or any intermediate position, means for limiting the opening movement of the cover, an electric circuit, an alarm in the circuit, a circuit closer in the circuit comprising a pair of posts located in the bottom of the casing and beneath said pocket and a spring attached to one of said posts and having its free end bearing against the other post, and a pin carried by the cover; adapted to press the free end of the spring out of engagement with the last named post when the cover is closed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SOLOMON S. HOPKINS.

Witnesses:

E. W. MILLER, ANNIE S. HOPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). 0. 

